Introduction

The document defines the objectives and details the
aims and structure plan which the Society aspires to implement. It extends over the short/medium and
long term.

It provides a framework within which the Society
Trustees exercise their powers to set the overall policy for Bluebell Railway
plc and helps them to ensure that the company is pursuing policies designed to
deliver the aims and objectives of the Society.

The Society Trustees will report on progress against
the Plan at each Annual General Meeting of the Society and will next review the
Plan in 2012.

It should be noted that the plans outlined in this
document are not set out in any order of achievement or priority.

Objectives of the
BRPS

The principal objective of the Society is the
preservation and operation of the railway between Sheffield Park , East Sussex and East Grinstead, West Sussex
and any future extensions.

The railway also aims, by various means, to
recreate three periods of railway history, namely pre Grouping - London
Brighton & South Coast, Grouping - Southern Railway and
Nationalisation - British Railways Southern Region.

The achievement of these objectives is through:

the
preservation of historic locomotives, rolling stock and other items of railway
interest;

provision,
subject to agreement, for the housing and operation of preserved locomotives
and rolling stock and other historic railway artefacts belonging to private
individuals and other preservation bodies;

the
encouragement of interest in and study and enjoyment of railway history and
operation and all subjects related thereto.

The railway recognises an obligation to respect
the environment in which it operates and in particular will continue to provide
sympathetic consideration to the flora and fauna that occupies the lineside and
adjacent land. It will pursue any initiatives that can be introduced to improve
compliance with generally accepted environmental control methods.

Staffing Aims (Applicable to all departments of
the railway)

The railway values its volunteer resources
as the most vital ingredient in its continued success. Because of this, the aim
is to focus on the following key requirements:

i. Provision of
messing and sleeping accommodation to the best possible standard. The objective
is to provide improved or new facilities throughout the railway to meet the
needs of individual groups which may in some cases be combined with similar
facilities for the paid employees of Bluebell Railway plc. Delivery of this
objective will be through a process of volunteer consultation and against a
prioritised order of needs.

ii. Continuation
of existing training initiatives and development of new initiatives taking into
account the existing skills of volunteers and the work undertaken. Priority
will be given to those who undertake safety critical work and this will be
achieved by a process of national accredited awards assessed against Rail
Academy and best practice standards which have been adapted for heritage
railway applications.

Infrastructure Aims

1) Locations

Each station shall have a protected zone within which no new structures
shall be erected without the agreement of the Preservation Standards
sub-Committee.

a) Sheffield Park

Sheffield Park will remain of
LB&SCR appearance and all works done will be sympathetic to that period. It
will remain the headquarters of the railway and the home of the Locomotive
department. All locomotive
restoration and maintenance will be based at Sheffield Park.

The following projects are proposed for
Sheffield Park

Reinstatement of the canopy on platform 1
from the barrier to the gentleman's toilet and also the provision of a disabled
toilet.

Expansion of the museum building whilst
keeping the original facade

Provision of toilet facilities on platform 2

A review of the use of the site with the intention of providing
additional facilities for the Locomotive and Museum Departments and improved or
additional attractions for our visitors

To improve accessibility and interpretation within the Locomotive
Running Shed, and improved lighting within the Shed

To improve
the appearance of the station by achieving a uniform style for platform
surfacing and fencing

To carry out a feasibility study to extend
the canopies at the north end of both platforms to mirror Kingscote and thus
provide additional undercover accommodation for our visitors.

b) Horsted Keynes

Horsted Keynes will remain of Southern Railway appearance
and all works done will be sympathetic to that period. It will remain the home of the
Carriage and Wagon, Permanent Way and Signalling & Telecoms
departments. All carriage and
wagon restoration and maintenance will be based at Horsted Keynes.

The following projects are proposed for Horsted Keynes

To
screen the carriage shed from the approach road and tidy up the rail side
approach from New Road bridge

To
replace the zinc roofing on the platform canopies like for like

To
improve the appearance of the Down Yard so that it is tidy and workmanlike.

c) Kingscote

Kingscote will, after the extension is completed, revert to being a typical country station of the early days of British Railways Southern Region.

The following projects are proposed for Kingscote

To resurface the forecourt in a combination of cobbles and gravel.

To establish in conjunction with the museums department, a goods display on the dock with ancillary items in the goods shed and preserved wagons in the dock roads.

To construct a replica SR loading gauge at the exit of the up siding.

2) Extensions

a) Kingscote to East Grinstead

i. Complete the construction of the line from Kingscote to East Grinstead.
ii. Construction of a new station and provision of rail interchange facilities at East Grinstead.
iii. Liaise with local authorities, Network Rail and New Southern Railway to develop a high quality joint station that will provide all the operational and other facilities required by Bluebell and its passengers.

b) Ardingly Branch

i. Undertake a feasibility study into the reconstruction of the line from Horsted Keynes to Ardingly and Haywards Heath.
ii. Undertake limited maintenance to drainage, fences, structures and trackbed to prevent further deterioration and an annual check of the boundary of our land.

Major Projects

a) Operation Undercover

to get all vulnerable rolling stock under weatherproof cover as soon as practicable both at Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes

to provide a replacement boiler washout pit and maintenance facilities for the Locomotive fleet at Sheffield Park

to expand and improve the Railway's Museum and provision for education and interpretation available to our visitors.

b) Overnight Accommodation for Staff

Provision of messing and sleeping accommodation to the best possible standard.

Departmental Aims

1) Locomotive Department

The locomotive department will aim

i. To provide and maintain sufficient locomotives in sufficient numbers, incorporating an appropriate mix of types and sizes to enable authentic and profitable train operation. The aim is maintain in service approximately 12 locomotives with the minimum in each category as follows:

iv. To enhance the works and yard facilities to assist the repair and maintenance of locomotives

v. To provide training, including apprenticeships, to ensure that the works maintains the skills necessary to undertake its work

vi. To restore all locomotives currently on the railway and still in ex-scrapyard condition

vii. To construct replicas of locomotives which are particularly appropriate to the collection and to the operation of the railway

viii. To plan in conjunction with the Carriage & Wagon Works and the Operating Department for the best matching of locomotives and rolling stock

ix. To provide facilities where possible for visitors to view the Department's work

2) Carriage & Wagon Department

The C&W department will aim

i. To provide and maintain appropriate sets of coaches in sufficient numbers, incorporating an appropriate mix of 1st and 3rd class provision to enable authentic and profitable train operation. Whilst acknowledging that sets including a mixture of types such as Bulleid and Mark 1 are both prototypical and inevitable, the aim is to create representative sets as follows:

3) Signal and Telecommunications Department

i. To maintain the signalling and telecommunications systems so that operational performance of the railway can be maximized.

ii. To complete the re-signalling of Horsted Keynes.

iii. To complete the signalling of Kingscote and the extension to East Grinstead.

iv. To establish workshop and storage facilities in permanent buildings allowing a number of vans to be released for restoration and use in traffic. This also allows for a centralised stores rather than having them fragmented around the railway

v. To replace the signal box at Sheffield Park with an appropriately designed building and to re-signal the station

4) Permanent Way Department

The permanent way department will aim

i. to maintain the main line so that passengers get the best ride possible and that there is no need to implement speed restrictions (except in emergency)

ii. to carry out a programme of renewals in those areas/cases where maintenance is no longer a cost effective option.

5) Museums and Archives

The Museum Management Committee will aim

To maintain Registration status with MLA and when appropriate to upgrade to Accredited status as a programme of continual improvement of display, interpretation, collections care and access.

To provide a research centre for students, schools and public researchers to enable them to explore the whole collection and fully accessible by people of all ages and abilities.

To assist other departments to illustrate their work, methods, history and development.

To develop links with other Registered museums in the locality to provide an inclusive knowledge base.